April 22-28, 2019 by OU Daily

A P R I L 2 2 - 2 8 , 2 0 19 | W E E K LY I N P R I N T | O U D A I LY. C O M

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The team looks up as streamers fall from the ceiling after being crowned national champion April 20.

RAISING THE BAR Women’s gymnastics wins fourth national championship, honoring mentor who died in February

O RT W O RT H — On Saturday night, Oklahoma’s women’s gymnastics team was crowed national champion for the fourth time in five years. The Sooners placed first in the NCAA women’s gymnastics team finals with a score of 198.3375 — defeating LSU, UCLA and Denver — and, in doing so, capped off a perfect season. For a program that has experienced as much success as Oklahoma has in the past few years, what makes this one so special? They did it for Dave. Jenn Richardson has been the Oklahoma gymnastics athletic trainer for 12 years. Her husband, Dave Richardson, who played a mentor role for many of the Sooners, was diagnosed with colon cancer in 2016. C o m i ng i nt o t h i s s e a s o n , Oklahoma’s team hashtag and mantra was PZTSF. It stands for .0275, or the final point differential between Oklahoma, the 2018 runner-up, and UCLA, the national champion. But when Richardson passed away t h i s Feb r u a r y , P Z T S F went out the window, in favor of something more. DIFD — do it for Dave — became Oklahoma’s new driving force. This was a maj or turning point in Oklahoma’s season. At this moment, the Sooners came together to recognize that this season was not about them or

STEVEN PLAISANCE • @SPLAISANCE00 what they lost last season. It was about something much bigger. “Dave was a huge part of our team and our family,” coach K.J. Kindler said. “He came into the gym all the time,” junior Maggie Nichols said. “He was considered our Norman dad. We could count on him and Jenn — their whole family — for anything. They were kind of our second parents; we could go to them for anything. He was just there through it all.” The Sooners adorned their hair w ith blue r ibb ons and emblazoned the initials “DR” across the backs of their leotards as a constant reminder that Dave is with them, always watching over them. According to the Sooners, tonight Dave sent them a message back, in the form of a championship trophy. “I know tonight he was lifting us up,” Kindler said. “Ever y routine we did tonight, we did it for him,” Nichols said. “He was there with us. He helped us win this national championship.” Before the meet began, many of the opposing gymnasts appeared ver y loose as they warmed up, dancing and interacting with the crowd. Oklahoma, on the other hand, carried an intense, determined demeanor all the way through warmups and into the meet. The Sooners intended to leave that

arena as champions, and they certainly looked the part. “We are very business-like,” Kindler said. “We’re very organized, very strategic in what we do. We try to stick to the plan” Like they have so many times this season, Oklahoma grabbed control of the meet right out of the gates.

“We have good times and we have bad times. We have moments of struggle and conflict. We’ve had moments of sadness. We’ve had moments of triumph. That’s what families do, they go through all those emotions together. ” K.J. KINDLER, COACH

Even when sophomore Anastasia Webb’s leadoff bars routine scored a 9.8125, a solid score but not stellar, the Sooners stuck to the plan. The next five Oklahoma gymnasts scored at least a 9.85, including a tremendous 9.9375 by Nichols, to round out a strong bars performance

and place Oklahoma in first after one rotation. From there, Oklahoma’s lead only grew. The Sooners breezed through the next two events, scoring a 49.6125 on balance beam and a 49.65 on floor. As Oklahoma shifted to vault for the final rotation of their season, they carried a four-tenths lead. After five strong Sooner vaults, senior Brenna Dowell prepared for the final routine of her Sooner career. Though Oklahoma’s fate seemed set by this point, Dowell could end all worries in an instant with a good vault. Instead, she gave a great one. Dowell scored a 9.9875, the highest vault of the night, to finally turn Oklahoma’s championship dreams into reality. “I was in awe,” Dowell said. “That was the first vault that I really stuck all season. To do it on the very last night, on the night of the final four, to really clinch that victory — pure joy.” Even in celebration, Kindler’s Sooners are exceptional at sticking to the plan. On Saturday night, the plan was to do it for Dave, and Dowell did exactly that. “Me and Nico, we’re both seniors, so we started out talking about how that was our last vault ever,” Dowell said of her postmeet interaction with fellow senior Nicole Lehrmann. “And then I looked at her and I said,

‘We did it.’ And then I looked at her again and we pointed to the sky and we said, ‘We did it for Dave.’ We did it for him. To honor his memory in this way was so special.” After an absolute roller coaster of a season, it’s only right that the Sooners would go out on top. “It has been quite the journey this year,” Kindler said. “We were dealing with a new issue every single week. Some were illnesses, some were personal issues, some were injuries. We were faced with adversity from beginning to end. It might have looked easy from the outside, but we were battling the entire time.” Looking back on the countless obstacles that the Sooners faced this season, their ability to come together, stick to the plan and rise above it all to win a title for Dave has only brought them closer together. “We op erate as a family,” Kindler said. “We have good times and we have bad times. We have moments of struggle and conflict. We’ve had moments of sadness. We’ve had moments of triumph. That’s what families do, they go through all those emotions together. “This year has just been a miracle, it really has been.” Steven Plaisance

srplaisance@ou.edu

Men’s gym falls to Stanford in stunning loss Win streak ends at 121, third-longest in NCAA CHANDLER ENGELBRECHT @ctengelbrecht

Despite what the last five years have shown, Oklahoma can’t win ‘em all. No. 1 Oklahoma lost in stunning fashion on Saturday night as the top-ranked Sooners fell to No. 2 Stanford 415.222-414.556 in the national championship team

finals. The loss ends the Sooners’ historic win streak at 121 consecutive wins and is their first loss since the 2014 national championship, where the Sooners also finished runner-up in the team finals. The streak, outside of the 121-straight wins, was comprised of four-consecutive MPSF conference championships and fourstraight national titles. “It was an amazing run,” head coach Mark Williams said after the meet. “It’s hard to have a

streak of victories over such a long period of time, and we were a little off tonight.” This is now the eighth time the Sooners have finished national runner-up under Williams, who has led the Sooners to nine national titles and has never had a Sooner squad finish lower than fourth place in the nation. The Sooners started the meet with 69.698 and 67.265 on floor exercise and pommel horse, respectively, in the first two rotations. Senior co-captain and

Nissen-Emery award winner Yul Moldauer took home All-America status for his 14.333 score on pommel horse. Moldauer would bring his career total to 18 All-American honors in the meet, moving him into a tie for second in NCAA history. In rotation two, it appeared Oklahoma was starting to piece together a winning performance as they went 70-plus on still rings and vault in the next two rotations. Seniors Jake Maloley, Peter Daggett and Moldauer posted

14.266, 14.366 and 14.533, respectively, on still rings, both Daggett and Moldauer took home AllAmerican accolades for their performances in the event. Vault saw freshman Vitaliy Guimaraes and senior co-captain Levi Anderson post scores of 14.800 and 14.666, respectively, which garnered both gymnasts All-American status. As the meet began to draw to a close, the intensity began to build up. In rotation five, the Sooners See GYM page 6

• April 22-28, 2019

ATRIBUTE TO THE

FACULTY

CONGRATULATIONS FACULTY HONOREES

Abbott

Adams

Barnes

Bass

Beutel

Bolino

Childers

Cricchio

Frantz

Greene

Lake

Lamb

Lightsey

Lobban

McGovern

Nairn

Natale

Patten

Riggs

Safiejko-Mroczka

Salazar

Shaner

Sibbett

Snyder

Song

Wagner

Wang

Ward

Weider

Williams

Yeary

Zgurskaya

ANNIVERSARY RECOGNITION – 50 YEARS: Irvin Wagner, School of Music, Weitzenhoffer Family College of Fine Arts ANNIVERSARY RECOGNITION – 30 YEARS: M. Cenzig Altan, School of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering, Gallogly College of Engineering, Keith

A. Brewster, Center for Analysis and Prediction of Storms, Brian H. Fiedler, School of Meteorology, College of Atmospheric and Geographic Sciences, Scott D. Gronlund, Department of Psychology, College of Arts and Sciences, Phillip Gutierrez, Homer L. Dodge Department of Physics and Astronomy, College of Arts and Sciences, Scott C. Linn, Division of Finance, Michael F. Price College of Business, Bruce A. Mason, Homer L. Dodge Department of Physics and Astronomy, College of Arts and Sciences, Chanda L. Robinson, Department of Biology, College of Arts and Sciences, David A. Sabatini, School of Civil Engineering and Environmental Science, Gallogly College of Engineering, Melissa Stockdale, Department of History, College of Arts and Sciences, Gregory J. Stumpf, Cooperative Institute for Mesoscale Meteorological Studies, Caryn C. Vaughn, Department of Biology, College of Arts and Sciences, Ming Xue, School of Meteorology, College of Atmospheric and Geographic Sciences

ANNIVERSARY RECOGNITION – 20 YEARS: Julia L. Abramson, Department of Modern Languages, Literatures and Linguistics, College of Arts and Sciences,

Ronald H. Anderson, Division of Management and International Business, Michael F. Price College of Business, John Antonio, School of Computer Science, Gallogly College of Engineering, Loretta E. Bass, Department of Sociology, College of Arts and Sciences, Donald T. Bogan, College of Law, Richard E. Broughton, Department of Biology, College of Arts and Sciences, Elizabeth Butler, School of Civil Engineering and Environmental Science, Gallogly College of Engineering, Hans Butzer, Christopher C. Gibbs College of Architecture, Marjorie P. Callahan, Division of Architecture, Christopher C. Gibbs College of Architecture, Paul G. Christman, School of Musical Theatre, Weitzenhoffer Family College of Fine Arts, Jose J. Colin, Department of Modern Languages, Literatures and Linguistics, College of Arts and Sciences, Mary Shane Connelly Mumford, Department of Psychology, College of Arts and Sciences, Andrew D. Cuccia, Steed School of Accounting, Michael F. Price College of Business, Christophe D. Curtis, Cooperative Institute for Mesoscale Meteorological Studies, Robert R. Dohrmann, School of Visual Arts, Weitzenhoffer Family College of Fine Arts, Kathleen E. Duncan, Department of Microbiology and Plant Biology, College of Arts and Sciences, Stephen E. Ellis, Department of Philosophy, College of Arts and Sciences, Evgeni Fedorovich, School of Meteorology, College of Atmospheric and Geographic Sciences, Laura K. Gibbs, OU College of Professional and Continuing Studies, Bradley G. Illston, Oklahoma Climatologic Survey, Kevan L. Jensen, Steed School of Accounting, Michael F. Price College of Business, Amy J. Johnson, Department of Communication, College of Arts and Sciences, Emily D. Johnson, Department of Modern Languages, Literatures and Linguistics, College of Arts and Sciences, Tohren C. Kibbey, School of Civil Engineering and Environmental Science, Gallogly College of Engineering, Kevin A. Kloesel, Oklahoma Climatologic Survey, Joshua M. Landis, Department of International and Area Studies, David L. Boren College of International Studies, Jeremy A. Lindberg, School Of Dance, Weitzenhoffer Family College of Fine Arts, Brenda Lloyd-Jones, Department of Human Relations, College of Arts and Sciences, Richard Lupia, ConocoPhillips School of Geology and Geophysics, Mewbourne College of Earth and Energy, David P. Miller, School of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering, Gallogly College of Engineering, Shankar Mitra, ConocoPhillips School of Geology and Geophysics, Mewbourne College of Earth and Energy, Michael Mumford, Department of Psychology, College of Arts and Sciences, Kang Nai, Cooperative Institute for Mesoscale Meteorological Studies, Daniel Ostas, Division of Management and International Business, Michael F. Price College of Business, Dimitrios V. Papavassiliou, School of Chemical, Biological and Materials Engineering, Gallogly College of Engineering, Judith M. Pender, School of Drama, Weitzenhoffer Family College of Fine Arts, Chandra S. Rai, Mewbourne School of Petroleum and Geological Engineering, Mewbourne College of Earth and Energy, Rodger A. Randle, Department of Human Relations, College of Arts and Sciences, Sarah E. Robbins, University Libraries, Teresa M. Shaft, Management Information Systems, Michael F. Price College of Business, Sohail H. Shehada, School of Visual Arts, Weitzenhoffer Family College of Fine Arts, Jay Shorten, University Libraries, Carolin J. Showers, Department of Psychology, College of Arts and Sciences, Karl H. Sievers, School of Music, Weitzenhoffer Family College of Fine Arts, Mitchell P. Smith, Department of International and Area Studies, David L. Boren College of International Studies, Carl H. Sondergeld, Mewbourne School of Petroleum and Geological Engineering, Mewbourne College of Earth and Energy, Joseph M. Sullivan, Department of Modern Languages, Literatures and Linguistics, College of Arts and Sciences, Sarah W. Tracy, Honors College, Lawrence J. Weider, Department of Biology, College of Arts and Sciences, Michael E. Winston, Department of Modern Languages, Literatures and Linguistics, College of Arts and Sciences, Grady C. Wray, Department of Modern Languages, Literatures and Linguistics, College of Arts and Sciences, Linda T. Zagzebski, Department of Philosophy, College of Arts and Sciences, Meijun Zhu, Department of Mathematics, College of Arts and Sciences STUDENT GOVERNMENT ASSOCIATION AWARD OUTSTANDING FACULTY AWARD Rachel Childers, Peggy and Charles Stephenson School of Biomedical Engineering, Gallogly College of Engineering GOOD TEACHING AWARDS Anthony J. Cricchio, Division of Architecture, Christopher C. Gibbs College of Architecture Barbara Safiejko-Mroczka, Department of Biology, College of Arts and Sciences GENERAL EDUCATION TEACHING AWARD Ann M. Beutel, Department of Sociology, College of Arts and Sciences GATEWAY TO COLLEGE LEARNING OUTSTANDING INSTRUCTOR AWARD Travis Lightsey, University College Major Exploration, University College PROVOST’S COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AWARD FOR SCHOLARSHIP, RESEARCH AND CREATIVE ACTIVITY Robert W. Nairn, School of Civil Engineering and Environmental Science, Gallogly College of Engineering

PROVOST’S COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING ENGAGED TEACHING Ron H. Frantz, Jr., Division of Architecture, Christopher C. Gibbs College of Architecture MERRICK FOUNDATION TEACHING AWARD *Myongjin Kim, Department of Economics, College of Arts and Sciences HENRY DANIEL RINSLAND MEMORIAL AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN EDUCATIONAL RESEARCH Curt Matthew Adams, Department of Educational Leadership and Policy Studies, Jeannine Rainbolt College of Education VICE PRESIDENT FOR RESEARCH AWARD FOR INTERDISCIPLINARY SCHOLARSHIP Amy McGovern, School of Computer Science, Gallogly College of Engineering

VICE PRESIDENT FOR RESEARCH AWARD FOR BROADENING THE PARTICIPATION OF TRADITIONALLY UNDERREPRESENTED OR UNDERSERVED POPULATIONS Lori Anderson Snyder, Department of Psychology, College of Arts and Sciences VICE PRESIDENT FOR RESEARCH AWARD FOR SCHOLARLY ENGAGEMENT WITH THE PRIVATE SECTOR Mark B. Yeary, School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Gallogly College of Engineering REGENTS’ AWARD FOR SUPERIOR TEACHING John Scott Greene, Department of Geography and Environmental Sustainability, College of Atmospheric and Geographic Sciences Anthony P. Natale, Anne and Henry Zarrow School of Social Work, College of Arts and Sciences Megan Sibbett, Department of Women’s and Gender Studies, College of Arts and Sciences Lawrence J. Weider, Department of Biology, College of Arts and Sciences REGENTS’ AWARD FOR SUPERIOR PROFESSIONAL AND UNIVERSITY SERVICE AND PUBLIC OUTREACH Wayne D. Riggs, Department of Philosophy, College of Arts and Sciences DAVID L. BOREN PROFESSORSHIP Mark C. Bolino, Division of Management and International Business, Michael F. Price College of Business DAVID ROSS BOYD PROFESSORSHIP Lance L. Lobban, School of Chemical, Biological and Materials Engineering, Gallogly College of Engineering GEORGE LYNN CROSS RESEARCH PROFESSORSHIP Helen I. Zgurskaya, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, College of Arts and Sciences PRESIDENTAL PROFESSORSHIPS Braden K. Abbott, Homer L. Dodge Department of Physics and Astronomy, College of Arts and Sciences Brian and Sandra O’Brien Presidential Professorship The University of Oklahoma is an equal opportunity institution. www.ou.edu/eoo

Jennifer L. Barnes, Department of Psychology/ Professional Writing Program, College of Arts and Sciences/Gaylord College of Journalism and Mass Communication Robert Glenn Rapp Foundation Presidential Professorship Loretta E. Bass, Department of Sociology, College of Arts and Sciences Edith Kinney Gaylord Presidential Professorship Kirsten T. Edwards Williams, Department of Educational Leadership and Policy Studies, Jeannine Rainbolt College of Education Linda Clarke Anderson Presidential Professorship *Ali Imran, School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Gallogly College of Engineering William H. Barkow Presidential Professorship Vickie Eileen Lake, Department of Instructional Leadership and Academic Curriculum, Jeannine Rainbolt College of Education Huddleston Presidential Professorship Marvin L. Lamb, School of Music, Weitzenhoffer Family College of Fine Arts Henry Zarrow Presidential Professorship Michael A. Patten, Oklahoma Biological Survey, College of Arts and Sciences President’s Associates Presidential Professorship Jorge Luis Salazar Cerreño, School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Gallogly College of Engineering William H. Barkow Presidential Professorship Megan W. Shaner, College of Law President’s Associates Presidential Professorship *Rachel A. Shelden, Department of History, College of Arts and Sciences President’s Associates Presidential Professorship Li Song, School of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering, Gallogly College of Engineering Lloyd G. and Joyce Austin Presidential Professorship Le Wang, Department of Economics, College of Arts and Sciences President’s Associates Presidential Professorship Janet A. Ward, Department of History, College of Arts and Sciences Brammer Presidential Professorship *not pictured

April 22-28, 2019 •

NEWS

Nick Hazelrigg, news managing editor dailynews@ou.edu • phone: 405-325-3666 oudaily.com • Twitter: @OUDaily

Older students seek degrees Nontraditional students return to school later in life BAILEY LEWIS @BaileyLewis75

Matthew Mairet followed the crowd and went to college at 18, but after realizing it wasn’t for him, he dropped out and started to work full time. It wasn’t until he began working as a lead preschool teacher and saw the shortcomings in his teaching abilities that he started to reconsider getting a college degree. Mairet found he had a passion for teaching and wanted to learn more about how to educate young children, so he began college in 2016 when he was 31 at Oklahoma City Community College, and then he transferred to OU in fall 2017. Mairet is one of the 1,948 nontraditional students at OU as of spring 2019, according to OU’s Norman Campus Enrollment Analysis Report. Nontraditional students are defined as undergraduate students who are 24 or older, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. Now 34 with plans to graduate this May, Mairet is confident in his career path and what his future holds with a college degree in early childhood education. “The biggest things I’ve learned on my journey are the importance of doing things in your own time and finding the things that make you happy,” Mairet said. “I went to college right out of high school because other people told me I should, and all I did was waste a lot of money finding out that I wasn’t ready for college yet. I consider myself lucky because, better late than never, I have found the job that will make me happy, and I’m

CAITLYN EPES/THEDAILY

Matthew Mairet, a nontraditional OU student, poses for a photo behind Dale Hall April 15.

now pursuing that choice.” Of the 2.9 million high school graduates in 2017, about 1.9 million, or 67 percent, enrolled in college by the following October, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. At OU, there are currently 18,488 traditional students, which are students who enrolled in college right out of high school, according to OU’s Norman Campus Enrollment Analysis Report. Law Tyler, a political science junior, said he didn’t start college until he was 37 and is now 41. He worked as a dental laboratory technician for his father, but when they went out of business, he realized he needed to get a degree. “Working in a dental lab was pretty much all I had done most of my life,” Tyler said. “And so that was pretty much about the only thing I knew how to do ... So going

to college seemed like the best option.” Tyler said he has always had a passion and interest in politics and frequently worked in political campaigns outside of work and is glad he gets to learn about it in college. “I’ve always liked learning, and I’ve actually taken on a subject that I’ve always been interested in, and so that helps a lot, too,” Tyler said. James Horan, a sociology sophomore, joined the military when he was 20. In 1998, he had a break in service and went back to school, but he realized it wasn’t for him. He was in the Air National Guard from 1998 to 2001 and was then deployed after 9/11. After leaving the military, Horan started college at 43. He is currently 45 and pursuing a degree in sociology so he can return to the Air

Force. “I’ve just always wanted to obtain my degree, and it has always been a life goal,” Horan said. “And then pursuing this degree in sociology allows me to get the job that I do want, which is to go back and work for the Air Force as a civilian.” Horan said being in college at an older age allows him to “be immature at times,” and that some instructors treat him like a young student without realizing that he may be older than them. Mairet said he occasionally feels discouraged about being a nontraditional student, but he has learned to accept it and realized every person’s story is different. “These thoughts mostly come about when I encounter people I graduated high school with who have been a professional for 10 years,” Mairet said. “I’ll

kick myself thinking, ‘That could’ve been me,’ but I also give myself some slack because during my time away from school, I did some truly wonderful things and had some once-in-a-lifetime experiences.” Horan said the biggest issue he has encountered by starting college at 43 is the age gap between him and traditional students. Horan said the difference in age is stark because he has to balance family life, and come home every day to cook, clean and do yard work, whereas college students only have to take care of themselves. “The mindset between the college freshman versus somebody who is probably their parents’ age is a lot different,” Horan said. “And with college students, they don’t understand anything else but what’s in front of them. And I had to stop and think of that and be in that mindset that they haven’t lived the life that I’ve lived in. I just had to look at myself, and I had to tell myself that I need to realize that I’m in their environment and need to adjust to them.” Tyler said when he was going to school at a community college, he didn’t notice the age gap because there were a lot of older adults like himself but found that after being at OU for the past year he “stands out like a sore thumb.” Overall, Mairet said he’s not discouraged by being a nontraditional student and is hopeful of what his future holds. “I look on my age as a boon,” Mairet said. “I know how to succeed at school a lot better now than 10 years ago, and my academic achievements are proof of that claim.” Bailey Lewis

bailey.n.lewis-1@ou.edu

Emma Keith Editor in Chief Nick Hazelrigg News Managing Editor Kayla Branch Enterprise Editor George Stoia Sports Editor Siandhara Bonnet Culture Editor Caitlyn Epes Visual Editor Julia Weinhoffer Engagement Editor Emily McPherson Copy Chief Emily Douthitt Print Editor

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Research center bridges NOAA, OU

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CIMMS gives OU researchers range to work in all fields

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SCOTT KIRKER @scott_kirker

As he explained the rainbow of flashing lights on his monitor, Kim Elmore had a slight smile on his face. Each individual blip on Elmore’s colorful monitor represented a report a user of the app had made in the last few seconds — the result of years of hard work by Elmore and other researchers. E l m o re, a re s e a rc h e r who works at the National Weather Center on OU’s research campus, was integral in the creation of mPING, an app that allows people across the United States and the globe to report precipitation types at their location. The app takes those reports and compiles them into a vivid visual representation. According to the app’s website, these mPING reports are used by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to fine-tune National Weather Center forecasts, while the National Severe Storm Laboratory (NSSL) uses the data in a variety of ways, including to develop new radar and forecasting technologies and techniques. Elmore works under OU’s Cooperative Institute for Mesoscale Meteorological Studies (CIMMS). CIMMS communication specialist Emily Summars said the center has worked as a bridge between NOAA and

OU since 1978. In this capacity, CIMMS gives researchers more opportunities and furthers the National Weather Service’s mission to protect life and property and enhance the national economy. “We allow university employees, students, researchers, with opportunities to work on federal projects,” Summars said. “That may mean more opportunities to pitch projects, opportunities for different funding streams, different travel opportunities. It really is about creating a more streamlined process to ultimately support the National Weather Service’s mission.” According to a November 2018 press release, CIMMS is the largest research organization at OU. The center has more than 200 employees and receives over $19 million in funding annually, Summars said. Elmore said mPING is one project that would not have been possible without the collaboration that CIMMS enables. “Working with CIMMS, in some ways, made the generation of this app possible,” Elmore said. “For all kinds of historical reasons, the Weather Center is reluctant to develop its own app, and the federal government is not in the app business. As a part of CIMMS, there’s no restriction on developing an app.” As a result, Elmore and other CIMMS researchers were able to create an app that informs forecasters — many of whom had previously believed that radar could be used as a reliable

XANDIE WOOD/THE DAILY

Jill Hardy, a research associate with the Cooperative Institute for Mesoscale Meteorological Studies (known as CIMMS), showcases a computer program April 10. This program is used to train weather forecasters to quickly and accurately send out weather warnings to the public.

indicator of the exact precipitation type experienced on the ground — better than radar can. CIMMS research associate Jill Hardy, who works as part of the Warning Decision Training Division, develops training materials for weather forecasters that help them to better understand and warn the public about flash flooding. Hardy said benefits of her position as a part of CIMMS include more flexible opportunities to attend work-related conferences and local weather center visits, as well as access to research databases — both of which are enabled by being an OU employee as a part of CIMMS, rather than working directly under the federal government. These elevated opportunities, in the end, help her to better train forecasters and lead to better protection of life and property, Hardy said.

“Everything that goes into our training deliverables to make their decisions easier, to improve their skill set, to give them confidence in the decisions they’re making, the tools they need, is important,” Hardy said. “When they get to their desk, if they can make the decisions faster because of a training they took, all of it leads to better information for the public.” Race Clark, a research associate and team lead of the CIMMS team at the Storm Prediction Center, said CIMMS enables his team to focus on longer-range research topics. C lark said that while weather researchers are fairly good at predicting areas in which tornadoes might occur based on conditions, it’s difficult to determine exactly when and where a tornado will occur. His team runs statistics-based simulations to try to more firmly calculate where tornadoes may occur.

“CIMMS is really critical to the Storm Prediction Center because we’re bringing in some of those longer range topics that have a really bright future for the center,” Clark said, “but might take a longer time to address if we weren’t there.” Clark said he’s had opportunities to do research abroad and conduct research in a variety of meteorologically-related fields as a part of CIMMS. “I’ve been with CIMMS both as a graduate student and as an employee for almost 10 years now,” Clark said. “CIMMS is really cool because it gives researchers, students, everyone affiliated with it an ability to do research in all kinds of different fields.” Scott Kirker stk@ou.edu

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VOL. 104, NO. 21

NEWS

â&#x20AC;˘ April 22-28, 2019

â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s nice knowing youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re not aloneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Autistic people find community in Aspie Adults group DREW HUTCHINSON @drethegirl

On a rainy Saturday, six people sat in a Norman Public Library meeting room with the lights dimmed. Among the group were a mechanic, a schoolteacher and a network engineer. One was a millennial, and one was in his 70s. But everyone in Meeting Room C share one commonality: all are on the autism spectrum. The Norman chapter of Aspie Adults of Oklahoma, founded in 2015, meets every second Saturday of the month. The organization isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t a support or therapy group â&#x20AC;&#x201D; itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a social setting for 18+ autistic people to share their experiences, frustrations and victories. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re more of a social organization where we try and meet up with other autistic people to kind of talk about our experiences and talk about difficulties, things that bother us,â&#x20AC;? said Tom Taylor, 44, the groupâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s co-chair. At its March 26 meeting, Norman City Council passed a re s o l u t i o n d e c l a r i n g April as Autism Awareness Month. Taylor represented Aspie Adults at the meeting and said his speaking to council was a positive step for the community. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The autism community tends to be represented by parenting groups,â&#x20AC;? Taylor said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a movement ... about autistic people representing themselves and having a voice for themselves, and thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s one of the things that our group tries to do is to be a voice for autistic people by autistic people.â&#x20AC;? Lynnda Newbie, a group member and retiree, said she comes to Aspie Adults because she read that having more personal interactions leads to a longer, healthier life. She compared being in the group to growing up in a â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;50s neighborhood â&#x20AC;&#x201D; no one excludes anyone else, because everyone is part of the same community. â&#x20AC;&#x153;So, I get to come here and see everybody when we have a meeting, and sometimes they say really funny things, and sometimes I learn

things, so I enjoy it,â&#x20AC;? Newbie said. The name â&#x20AC;&#x153;Aspie Adultsâ&#x20AC;? is a reference to Asperger Syndrome, which was formerly classified as a separate form of autism. But Aspergerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t a formal diagnosis anymore â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Autism Spectr um Disorder has been the official terminology since 2013, although ASDs are distinguished by level. Most everyone with a former Aspergerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s diagnosis qualifies as having a Level 1 ASD, according to Very Well Health, a medical website. The group uses â&#x20AC;&#x153;Aspieâ&#x20AC;? in its name because many people with a mild ASD still identify using the term, Taylor said. Taylor, also a father of three, studied political science, worked as a college professor and a campaign consultant, and now teaches eighth grade. He said he received his autism diagnosis a few years ago while working on his doctorate, after his OU graduate adviser brought up the possibility. Taylorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s daughter was being evaluated for autism around the same time, and he said he started to recognize similarities in himself. â&#x20AC;&#x153;So many people were coming out of woodwork and going, â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Oh, we thought you knew!â&#x20AC;&#x2122;â&#x20AC;? Taylor said. And this situation isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t uncommon in the autism community, he said. Many members of Aspie Adults werenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t diagnosed until adulthood, l i k e G a r n e t t Te a k e l l , a 72-year-old former missionary and librarian, who said he learned he had autism by cataloguing books about Aspergerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s at work. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Ten years ago, Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d never even heard of Aspergerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s,â&#x20AC;? Teakell said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Until I came here, thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s all I had was books.â&#x20AC;? Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s no one agenda for an Aspie Adults meeting, Taylor said. Sometimes members discuss a topic, sometimes no topic is planned, and sometimes they watch a film. But all meetings help members to escape what Taylor called â&#x20AC;&#x153;social games,â&#x20AC;? or patterns of interactions common to neurotypicals â&#x20AC;&#x201D; people who donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t display autistic traits. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a comfort level (to the group),â&#x20AC;? Taylor said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;And a comfort level in a social situation for autistic

people is kind of rare.â&#x20AC;? At the last Aspie Adults meeting, members discussed uncertainties in their everyday lives: how much to talk in conversations, when itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s appropriate to leave a social situation, how to decide the line between acquaintance and friend, how to cope with rejection and how to handle confusing, performative behavior from neurotypical people. Some members said they felt suspicious toward overly friendly people. But others, like Teakell, said theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve learned to take interactions at face value. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m going to strictly interact on what is visible and obvious,â&#x20AC;? he said. But the group also talks about larger issues in the autism community. Taylor said autistic people experience high rates of violence, police brutality, suicide and unemployment â&#x20AC;&#x201D; only 15 percent of college-educated autistic people have a job, he said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Are (autistic people) being discriminated against because theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re coming out saying theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re autistic, or are they being discriminated against because the fact that theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re autistic, whether they mention it or not, gives them difficulty going through a job interview?â&#x20AC;?

Taylor said. But everyone who came to Saturdayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s meeting had a job or was retired, leaving members to discuss their good fortune amid an 85 percent unemployment rate. A couple group members said choosing the right field was integral to their success in the job market. For 49-year-old Mark Wheatley, the founder and co-chair of the group, that field was computer science. For another group member, it was car mechanics. This member said his skill set as an autistic person makes him a unique asset â&#x20AC;&#x201D; people on the spectrum often have highly logical brains and are able to focus on certain tasks longer than neurotypical people. â&#x20AC;&#x153;For me, realizing thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a niche in society that I fill that canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t be easily replicated by anyone else gives me a great sense of confidence and purpose that I wouldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have otherwise,â&#x20AC;? he said at the meeting. Taylor added that ever yone in the room was â&#x20AC;&#x153;high-functioning,â&#x20AC;? which is a term used to describe autistic people who exhibit milder symptoms. The phrase can be controversial in the autism community because of its focus on

Universal Crossword Edited by David Steinberg April 22, 2019

my friendâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s got mental illness

To a friend with mental illness, your caring and understanding greatly increases their chance of recovery. Visit whatadifference.samhsa.gov for more information. Mental Illness â&#x20AC;&#x201C; What a difference a friend makes.

Previous Solution

Instructions: Fill in the grid so that every row, every column and every 3x3 box contains the digits 1 through 9. That means that no number is repeated in any row, column or box.

CAITLYN EPES/THE DAILY

The Aspie Adults meeting in the Norman Public Library on April 13.

ACROSS 1 Gloomy 5 Caused damage 11 â&#x20AC;&#x153;I ___ only kiddingâ&#x20AC;? 14 Estimatorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s phrase 15 Baltimore bird 16 Late start? 17 Glimpse woodcutting facilities? 19 French diarist Anais 20 Firstborn 21 Leave unobserved 23 â&#x20AC;&#x153;Well, I guess soâ&#x20AC;? 25 California wine county 26 Jukebox favorite 29 Long stretch 32 Paramount Network, formerly 33 The third one is shocking 34 Silence breakersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; movement 36 ___ on (had too much of) 39 Sharp turn 40 Ladybugâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s snack 41 Make a mistake 42 Racetrack statistic 44 Fancy leather 45 Divaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s forte 46 Slangy road reversal 48 Apt lead-in to â&#x20AC;&#x153;fixâ&#x20AC;? 4/22

49 â&#x20AC;&#x153;Need anything?â&#x20AC;? reply 50 Japanese Winter Olympics site 53 â&#x20AC;&#x153;Take a Chance on Meâ&#x20AC;? quartet 55 I condition? 58 Like good bonds 62 Play about Capote 63 Abide weariness? 65 Vietnamese New Year 66 Wonton noodlesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; dry relative 67 Tangelo variety 68 ___/no question 69 With all judges present 70 Swamp growth DOWN 1 Capsule contents 2 Retired Dodger Hershiser 3 Like a loaner, typically 4 Perfume ingredient 5 Practical book genre 6 The long ___ of the law 7 Social reformer Jacob 8 Defoeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s â&#x20AC;&#x153;___ Flandersâ&#x20AC;?

9 Clothing designer Perry 10 Totalitarian ruler 11 Get amazing prizes? 12 Just like me 13 â&#x20AC;&#x153;Crime and Punishmentâ&#x20AC;? heroine 18 Tennis great Arthur 22 ___ Domini 24 Maintain 26 Petite pasta 27 Given the ax, with â&#x20AC;&#x153;offâ&#x20AC;? 28 Really like baseball shelters? 30 None of the above 31 â&#x20AC;&#x153;Beats me!â&#x20AC;? 34 More, in Havana 35 Some Wordsworth words

37 Cleveland Indian 38 â&#x20AC;&#x153;Dagnabbit!â&#x20AC;? 43 â&#x20AC;&#x153;The King and Iâ&#x20AC;? locale 45 No pro 47 Pave the way for 49 Vowelshaped beam 50 Meshlike 51 Concur 52 Tie ___ (carouse) 54 Bucker at a rodeo 56 Maya Angelouâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s foot 57 Word after â&#x20AC;&#x153;restâ&#x20AC;? or â&#x20AC;&#x153;residentialâ&#x20AC;? 59 Borderline 60 Pineapple brand 61 In the center of 64 Organizerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s container

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ability, Taylor said. But in a world with so many social and professional norms, being considered high-functioning can mean the difference between employment and unemployment, especially when it comes to interviewing, Taylor said. The group even discussed the privilege behind the label. â&#x20AC;&#x153;High-functioning doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t mean always-functioning,â&#x20AC;? Taylor said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re going to have bad days, but we have fewer bad days than many of the members of our community.â&#x20AC;? But certain parts of a work environment can still be a challenge. Taylor said autistic people are hypersensitive to stimuli, and teaching eighth grade can get loud and rowdy. To cope, he said he sets aside time to decompress upon arriving home. â&#x20AC;&#x153;You canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t just walk out on a room of 20 kids, so you just have to tough it out,â&#x20AC;? he said. But big groups arenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t always the only challenge for people on the spectrum. Aspie Adults members also discussed how to navigate dating situations, dating safety and relationships. They also talked about the fact that women have trouble getting diagnosed with autism because

their symptoms can present differently. The group agreed that coming to Aspie Adults of Oklahoma curbs feelings of isolation, which Taylor said can date back to childhood. â&#x20AC;&#x153;When youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re autistic, you grow up feeling alone a lot of the time,â&#x20AC;? Taylor said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;You donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t build close relationships, and you just feel like a freak. And I think the group does a really great job of letting you know that a lot of those experiences ... are actually kind of common in our community.â&#x20AC;? Wheatley said he appreciates the groupâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s focus on adult life and the specific challenges therein. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s nice knowing youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re not alone,â&#x20AC;? he said. Teakell said the group has given him the community he didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have before. â&#x20AC;&#x153;(The group) makes you feel like youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re not weird as you always thought you were,â&#x20AC;? he said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Hereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a whole group that I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have to feel inferior to because weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re all â&#x20AC;&#x201D;â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re all kids in the neighborhood,â&#x20AC;? Newbie said. Drew Hutchinson

drew.hutchinson@ou.edu

HOROSCOPE By Eugenia Last

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23) -- Get physical, make personal improvements and take better care of your emotional, physical and mental Check out the possibilities before health. Share feelings and build a you take a leap of faith. You may stronger relationship with a loved desire change, but waiting for the most opportune situation is favored. one. Consider acting on one of your own ideas. Youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll be surprised how much SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 22) -- Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t satisfaction youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll get by living your feel pressured to make a change just because someone else does. You dream instead of being a part of are better off doing your own thing. someone elseâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s. A joint venture will not turn out as planned. TAURUS (April 20-May 20) -- Aim high and donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t stop until you SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23-Dec. 21) -- If reach your destination. A financial you want something, go after it. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s opportunity looks promising, as long as you donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t go overboard and OK to be aggressive, as long as you donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t upset someone in the process. invest too much. Get permission and forge ahead. GEMINI (May 21-June 20) -- Put CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) -- Be your energy to good use. Lend a helping hand or nurture an impor- private about your activities until tant relationship. As long as you are you have everything in place and positive and willing to compromise, are fully prepared to present what you have to offer. you will meet with no resistance. MONDAY, APRIL 22, 2019 ASTROGRAPH by Eugenia Last

CANCER (June 21-July 22) -- A change or adjustment may need to be made for you to avoid being taken for granted. A confrontation may not bring the results you want, but using reason and making positive suggestions will. LEO (July 23-Aug. 22) -- If you want to find out whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s happening or how something is done, go directly to the source and ask questions. The information you get will help you make a positive lifestyle change. VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) -- Take a course or attend a function that will bring you in contact with industry peers. Networking events will lead to opportunities.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) -- Stop dreaming and start doing. Clear out clutter and make space for something you want to pursue. Your enthusiasm will encourage others to help you reach your goal. PISCES (Feb. 20-March 20) -- Put your energy into things you can actually accomplish. Be honest and realistic when it comes to what you are capable of doing and how to go about it. Personal improvement is encouraged. ARIES (March 21-April 19) -- Step up and make things happen. Effect changes that will put you in a better position to present what you have to offer. Pay closer attention to health, personal finances and legal matters.

April 22-28, 2019 •

CULTURE

Siandhara Bonnet, culture editor dailyent@ou.edu • phone: 405-325-3666 oudaily.com/culture • Twitter: @OUDailyCulture

NORMAN MUSIC FEST

The map of Norman Music Festival.

Your guide to Norman Music Fest Events, parking, what not to bring to festival grounds ALMA CIENSKI @almacienski

Norman Music Festival, the free, three-day festival celebrating local music, features performers from different genres in both indoor and outdoor venues. Although Norman Music Fest is free and fun for all, there are safety procedures that must occur to keep

everyone safe while enjoying the sounds of Norman. Here is a list of what to expect and how to prepare for the upcoming festival:

activities. Though the carexplosives nival is not run by Norman • Illegal substances of any Music Fest directly, it is kind conveniently located on • Carts Main Street on the west side • Large backpacks of the train tracks near the • Tents EVENTS Brewhouse Stage. • Coolers In addition to the schedA first aid station is locat- • Any glass materials uled artists, Norman Music ed on the corner of Main • Unauthorized vending Fest has so much to offer, Street and Peters Avenue. • Large signs of any kind including a food court, lo(posters, banners, cated on the corner of Gray WHAT NOT TO BRING etc.) Street and Crawford Avenue According to their web- • Pets across from the Op olis site, the following are not Outdoor Stage. allow e d on the festival THE FOLLOWING ITEMS The carnival, presented grounds: ARE ALLOWED: by the Norman Lions Club, • Outside alcohol, food or • Bottled water includes a Ferris wheel, beverages • Baby food r ides, games and other • F i r e w o r k s o r a n y • Non-perishable food

drive items • Diaper bags • Strollers Additionally, chairs are allowed until 6 p.m. when attendees will be asked to stow away their chairs in their vehicles or homes to prepare for the headliners. PARKING Norman Music Fest recommends using a ridesharing service, such as Uber or Lyft, for transportation to the festival grounds to prevent drinking and driving, as well as to lessen traffic in the parking lots.

Additionally, nearby City of Norman parking lots, street parking and private lots selling parking will be available during the festival weekend. Nearby lots are available at 220 Gray St., 201 Comanche St. and 211 Eufaula St. Norman Music Festival begins on April 25 and ends April 27, with performances from Beach Fossils, Black Milk and Skating Polly, among many more artists. Alma Cienski

aacienski@ou.edu

Local band Annie Oakley releases lineup Tour will include performances in 6 different states ABIGAIL HALL @abigail_wah

Annie Oakley released its upcoming tour lineu p, ra n g i n g f ro m Ap r i l 19 to Sept. 22, across the Midwest and Northwestern regions. On April 15 the Oklahoma City-based Americana band updated its website with 2019 shows in Colorado, Wyoming,

Missouri, Kansas, Texas and Oklahoma. The band’s tour expanding west collides with the Babb twins’ plan to move to Colorado in July, Grace Babb said. “It’s terrifying and also exciting all at once,” Babb said. Babb said Nia Personette, band violinist, will stay in Oklahoma while she continues school, but the band has no plans to separate. “We’re all still gonna be in the band together coordinating around ( P e r s o n e t t e ’s ) s c h o o l s c h e d u l e ,” B a b b s a i d .

“We’ve been all in school doing it anyways, so we’re still gonna make it work.” Th e t ou r b e g i n s w i t h a s h o w a t 8 p. m . A p r i l 19 at The Blue D o or in Oklahoma City, followed by their performance at Norman Music Fest at 9 p.m. April 26. After visiting five other states, the tour will return to Oklahoma, concluding in Tulsa on Sept. 22 at Voxpop House Concert. Abigail Hall ahall@ou.edu

Sophia and Grace Babb of Annie Oakley perform.

SIANDHARA BONNET/THE DAILY

Fashion 101: stand out, blend in with style Festival musthaves include shorts, sunscreen JULIA WEINHOFFER @juliaberit

know that late spring can get HOT. Make your Norman Music Fest experience a little less sweaty and wear denim shorts. Blend in? Wear s ome basic cut-offs; not everything needs to be a statement piece. St a n d o u t ! We a r p a tterned or colored shorts to bring more color to your Norman Music Fest look. You can find affordable options for this at Target.

While Nor man Music Festival isn’t Coachella, it is still the perfect time to break out your fun spring clothes. Here is a guide of what to wear at Norman Music Fest 2.) Reconstruct what you to blend in or stand out: already have. Instead of buying multiple outfits for 1.) Shorts are a must. If Norman Music Fest, look you know Norman, you around your own closet

and repurpose items you haven’t worn in forever. Nothing screams “music festival” like a cut-up vintage tee. Blend in? Stick to vintage-feeling neutrals. Stand out! Fill your NMF outfits with color! Show off your style and personality with lots of spring shades. 3.) Sunscreen matches e v e r y l o o k . Oklahoma weather can be erratic to say the least, so make sure you are prepared for the sun to shine (even if the forecast says otherwise). Make sure to wear sunscreen all day and reapply

b e t w e e n c o n c e r t s. Yo u b r o k e n - i n t o Va n s a n d don’t want to stand out Converse are always a good with a bright red sunburn, idea. so blend in the sunscreen! Stand out! Find a pair of gladiator or flatform san4.) Comfortable shoes dals — everyone will be a r e t h e o n l y o p t i o n . asking where you got them. Norman Music Fest has stages all around Main 5.) Want a whole new Street, and you may be outfit for NMF? Thrift walking around all day. stores are definitely the Leave the heels at home place to shop! That way you and break out some fun will have a completely origsandals or sneakers you’ve inal outfit without buying a b e e n s av i n g s i n c e l a s t fast-fashion outfit you will spring. If you are wearing only wear once. Some thrift a new pair of shoes, try and stores around Norman inbreak them in before the clude Donate a Miracle, weekend to avoid blisters Outreach Thrift Store and that will last for weeks. Thrift Nation. Blend in? Your perfectly Blend in? Thrift pieces

you know you will wear all summer — basics are always a necessity. Stand out! Find a wild outfit at the thrift store, and if you can’t see yourself wearing it again, take it back to the thrift store so another person can make it their own. Norman Music Fest will be April 25-27 on and around Main Street. Julia Weinhoffer julia.berit@ou.edu

• April 22-28, 2019

SPORTS

George Stoia, sports editor dailysports@ou.edu • phone: 405-325-3666 oudaily.com/sports • Twitter: @OUDailySports

PAXSON HAWS/THE DAILY

The women’s gymnastics team poses with its national championship trophies at the 2019 Women’s National Collegiate Gymnastics Championship in Fort Worth on April 20.

PAXSON HAWS/THE DAILY

Junior Jade Deqouveia performs on the floor April 20.

PAXSON HAWS/THE DAILY

Junior Maggie Nichols performs on the bars April 20.

PAXSON HAWS/THE DAILY

Junior Maggie Nichols performs on the floor April 20.

GYM: Continued from page 1

were able to build a fourpoint advantage behind senior co-captain Genki Suzuki’s 14.166 routine on parallel bars. This score notched an All-American honor for Suzuki. Oklahoma concluded the meet on high bars. After sophomore Gage Dyer and senior Peter Daggett started the event with two scores above 13.200, Moldauer took an unfortunate fall in the third routine that the Sooners just couldn’t recover from as they posted a team score of 66.065. Meanwhile, in their own rotation on still rings, Stanford notched a meetb e s t 7 1 . 1 3 1 . T h e s c o re rocketed the Cardinal into

PAXSON HAWS/THE DAILY

Coaches K.J. Kinder and Lou Ball comfort Jen Richardson after winning the national championship. Richardson is an athletic trainer for the team and lost her husband earlier this season. The Sooners have since dedicated the 2019 season to her husband, Dave.

first place to win their first championship since 2011. The runner-up finish for the Sooners cements their 121-consecutive win streak as the third-longest win streak in NCAA history. “Unfortunately, we just didn’t have the night that we needed to win another national championship,” Williams said. “I think Yul Moldauer doesn’t want to admit that he was injured a couple of weeks ago, hurting his elbow. It flared up a bit during the competition, but that’s part of sports.” At the end of the meet, Oklahoma walked away with 11 total All-America honors split between six different Sooners — which goes to show that the Sooners still have plenty to proud of. Chandler Engelbrecht

chandler.engelbrecht@ou.edu

OU men’s gymnastics coach Mark Williams watches his athletes perform March 9.

PAXSON HAWS/THE DAILY

SPORTS

April 22-28, 2019 â&#x20AC;˘

CAITLYN EPES/THE DAILY

Senior Sydney Romero runs to first in the game against Tulsa March 27.

OU sweeps Texas in 3 games Sooners increase win streak to 31 overall, 37 in Big 12

Including the Texas series, Oklahoma has won 31 consecutive games as of April 22, a streak that matches the program record set in 2016. The team has also PARKER PRIMROSE won a record-extending 37 @parker_primrose consecutive Big 12 games, which is the most in the hisThe Soonersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; dominant tory of the program and the season continued in Austin conference. this past weekend, as No. 1 Oklahoma (41-2, 12-0 Big Thursday: Oklahoma 3, 12) swept No. 11 Texas (36- Texas 1 12, 7-6 Big 12) in a threeThe series opened with an game series at McCombs impressive performance in Field. the circle by junior Giselle

Juarez, who pitched seven innings and struck out 10 batters while allowing five hits and walking just one. Senior Sydney Romero drove home two runs while senior Kylie Lundberg hit an RBI double while pinch hitting. Senior Falepolima Aviu and sophomore Jocelyn Alo each had two hits. Texas almost rallied late, as a runner stood on third in the bottom of the seventh, but a diving catch by freshman Grace Lyons preserved the win.

Grinch sees progress, but not perfection After final spring practice, defense still has holes to fill CALEB MCCOURRY @CalebMac21

After Oklahomaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s annual spring game Friday night, the team had its last practice of the spring just a few days later on April 16. As expected, Oklahoma defensive coordinator â&#x20AC;&#x201D; and intense perfectionist â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Alex Grinch has yet to see the defense he desires. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t see a fast defense yet,â&#x20AC;? Grinch said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t see a brand of football that would put us anywhere close to the top. (Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re) certainly not an elite defense. I wouldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t even claim weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re the top half of the country. Just the willingness to make decisions post-snap donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t put us in the best situation ... (Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve got a) long way to go.â&#x20AC;? Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s still four months until the Sooners kick off the 2019 season, but Grinchâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s mindset is already there.

Grinch saw transfer quarterback Jalen Hurts score in the air and on the ground, redshirt sophomore Kennedy Brooks rush two touchdowns and redshirt junior quarterback Tanner Schafer connect with freshman wide receiver Theo Wease twice in the end zone. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t remember, in spring football, (a time where) we walk out of it, quite frankly, ever really feeling well,â&#x20AC;? Grinch said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;You see holes, you see issues. Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s too many reps really to walk off the practice field after one particular practice saying, â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;We got it all figured out.â&#x20AC;&#x2122; In any event, you leave with kind of that taste in your mouth that youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve got a long way to go and you feel immediately anxious for fall camp, and obviously that doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t come for awhile.â&#x20AC;? One thing Grinch did see about Friday night that he liked was the recruiting atmosphere. Grinch says heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s never been a part of a recruiting experience tied into a team spring game. Under the

Friday night lights and in the stands were a number of recruits still deciding on whether or not to come to OU. Since the spring game, the Sooners have received two verbal commitments a four-star class of 2020 cornerback and a class of 2021 wide receiver. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Any time you have people on campus, at Oklahomaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s specifically, thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s just so much to sell,â&#x20AC;? Grinch said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It turns into a long day, or weekend maybe, for some (recruits) because thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s so much to highlight, and thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the fun thing as a coach ... Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s fun to obviously highlight everything that Oklahoma is and the aim for us is to make sure weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re bringing the right guys with that level of expectation for their college career. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s for the elite. And Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll say it over and over again: itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s for the 1 percent of the country.â&#x20AC;?

Friday: Oklahoma 4, Texas 3 (8) In Oklahomaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s first extra-inning game of the season, the Sooners trailed early until senior Caleigh Clifton scored on a throwing error and freshman Grace Green hit an RBI single in the fourth. Texas tied the game on a sacrifice bunt in the sixth, but Clifton hit a sacrifice fly and Aviu stole home in the eighth to seal the win. Ju n i o r Ma r i a h L o p e z made the start in the circle,

pitching four innings and striking out five while allowing one run. Juarez pitched the final four innings, allowing one earned run and striking out two.

with a home run and four RBIs while Alo also hit a home run and accounted for three RBIs. Romero went 2-4 at the plate and had one RBI. Junior Shannon Saile made the start in the circle, Saturday: Oklahoma 9, pitching all seven innings Texas 2 and allowing four hits while The Soonersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; final win striking out five batters and of the series was led by an walking two. explosive offensive performance late in the game, as Oklahoma scored a comParker Primrose bined seven runs in the fifth parker.m.primrose-1@ ou.edu and seventh innings. Green finished the game

DAILY SPECIALS Mondays: $10 Build your own Pastas

Tuesdays: 2 for 1 Parmigiana

Thursdays: $10.95 8oz Prime Top Sirloin Â Â?

Caleb McCourry

caleb.a.mccourry@ou.edu

Sundays: undays 1/2 Price Pizza Piizz

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